Manchester United have made some disappointing transfer decisions in recent years and this summer these mistakes are all coming home to roost.
While recruitment has been disappointing by Manchester United over the past decade or longer, so has the treatment of academy players who were sold.
This was the case with letting Alvaro Fernandez join Benfica without giving him a chance to start for the club, which has 12 months later seen him join Real Madrid for £43m.
There is a similar air of regret around Anthony Elanga this summer as he was sold for £15m two years ago, with Erik ten Hag preferring Facundo Pellistri. Now, he’s completed a £55m move to Newcastle.
In the coming years, there is another player who could bring regret in the form of Maxi Oyedele as his career reaches new levels.
Maxi Oyedele in Poland training kit looking relaxed.
Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Maxi Oyedele sends message after joins Strasbourg
Oyedele has made the £5.2m transfer to Strasbourg, who are Chelsea’s sister club, which has pocketed United around £2m.
This comes 12 months after United sold Oyedele for just £500k and is a big profit for the Polish side Legia Warsaw. Oyedele is tipped as having ‘incredible potential’ and now he will get to show this in Ligue 1.
Taking to Instagram after the deal was confirmed, Oyedele shared a message on his excitement to make the move.
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“Extremely excited to be at this club and part of the Strasbourg family. I can’t wait to play in front of you fans and give everything for the club.”
Following this message, several of Oyedele’s former teammates at United have reacted to the deal.
In the comments, Kobbie Mainoo was among those to react as he wrote: “Yessir”.
Responses to Maxi Oyedele Instagram.
Responses to Maxi Oyedele Instagram. Credit: @maxioyedele on Instagram.
While Hannibal Mejbri responded: “Wshhh my man gonna learn French”, followed by a heart eyes emoji. Additionally, Elanga wrote: “All the best skiiii”.
Shea Lacey was another to react: “Good luck brother”, while Ethan Wheatley added: “Let’s go bro”.
Tyler Fredricson also commented, adding: “Ur time brother”. Finally, Joe Hugill said: “Game changer!”
Manchester United will regret selling Maxi Oyedele
Seeing a former academy graduate make an impressive career for himself will always be pleasing to see for United supporters, however, in the case of Oyedele it could lead to regret.
The Poland international’s talent has always been clear, with Darren Fletcher tipping Oyedele for the top, which makes it strange that he wasn’t given a chance.
Bruno Fernandes was also a big believer in Oyedele and has been proven right after the 20-year-old impressed in his first year in Poland to earn a move to France.
United will regret not finding better loans for Oyedele abroad as he would be a very exciting talent to have under Amorim in the midfield, in a summer when Ineos are contemplating signing Wilfred Ndidi for £9m.
Hopefully, United learn from this and Jonny Evans will be key in handling youngsters better and finding perfect loans.